Hi everyone! My friends, I'm so very sorry I've been getting behind on updates! RL has been getting crazy for me. Over the last few weeks…well, you already know about the celeb deaths such as David Bowie and Alan Rickman but several people I knew personally (or in some cases relatives of the people I know personally) have passed. I've gone to several wakes and heard of quite a few others. I'm therefore very distracted and trying not to let my frame of mind go into my writing. That being said, I suggest you get a couple of tissues ready for the end of this chapter because I got a little emotional.

Lori

********** Chapter 15 **********

Several emotional days of talking and getting to know one another passed before Draco decided it was time to bring Blaise and Pansy into the mix. Once again a one at a time approach was taken.

Leaving Harry to his training and battle preparations one morning, Draco met Lucius in a sitting room and then called for Blaise to join them. He watched the two connect and they talked and swore to never let a separation of this kind tear them apart again. The young prince found out officially that, if his childhood had been normal, he and Blaise would've been raised to be very close cousins if not brothers. There would've been weekly visits and birthday celebrations and holidays spent all together with both of their families as well as the Parkinsons.

When Narcissa met her goddaughter for the first time since her awakening, there were more tears and hugs than Draco could handle emotionally and Harry had quickly joined them in order to calm the blond. Less than a day after these godchild meetings, Draco asked Severus to summon the Zabini and Parkinson families to join in the revelry. He and Sirius both insisted on a thorough questioning of both sets of elders and, once satisfied, allowed them entry to Malfoy Castle.

Harry made no secret of his happiness that Lucius' and Narcissa's friends were innocent of any betrayal against his fiancé's family. The only thing that bothered him was the way Pansy's father kept bringing up the fact that her betrothal with Blaise wasn't set in stone yet. He wasn't sure whether the older man meant to press the Zabinis into furthering their agreement or say that she was still available if the Malfoys wished to make new arrangements for her to marry Draco.

The blond seemed to sense Harry's discomfort each time Mr. Parkinson spoke this way. He also noticed Pansy shifting in her seat and Blaise's frown. Draco began to listen more closely as Lucius and his friends talked. The next time he heard Pansy's father remark on her unmarried status, he shivered and leaned closer to Harry who instinctively placed his arm comfortingly around his beloved. In response, Draco tilted his face up to welcome a kiss. Harry didn't think twice before lowering his lips to Draco's and when they looked up Mr. Parkinson had mysteriously become quiet.

Lucius and Narcissa appeared to take no note as they watched their son interact with Harry and his friends but Draco was sure he caught sight of a twinkle in his mother's eye just before she turned to Mrs. Parkinson and began discussing where she hoped to hold Pansy and Blaise's wedding.

The elves were busy setting up for Yule while all of this went on. The private rooms held a customized assortment of Yule décor that was suited to their inhabitants while the public rooms each had a different theme of colors and scents. Narcissa took Draco with her to each room to approve the arrangements when the elves had finished their tasks and he swore to himself that he'd never forget what she told him that day.

"Draco…my darling, I want you to know why I do this…" She paused and Draco seemed to sense that she wanted him to guess but he resisted the urge. Sighing, she went on. "It isn't because I'm the queen or a woman…It isn't because I am in any way lesser than your father. I oversee certain things because they're important for the day to day running of the castle or family but mostly it is because it takes the burden of such concerns from Lucius' shoulders as he is busy seeing to the things that affect the country. I am content in the knowledge that while he takes care of the kingdom…I take care of him…" Her eyes became unfocused as she recalled the years when she'd performed this task as a servant instead of a queen. "Well, that's how it was the first few years anyway, dearest."

Tears in his eyes, Draco took her hand and hooked it through his arm. "It can be that way again, Mum."

"And so it will." She smiled at him. "After all, you and Harry will take control of Scotland's magical community immediately but your father is still quite capable of ruling the English wizards for a while yet. You'll get to practice before ruling them both at once."

He grinned even as the color pink touched his cheeks. "Do you really think we can do this?"

Narcissa's blue eyes softened as she looked at her only son. "I have every faith in you both, my lovely dragon."

"P-Please don't call me that, Mum…" Draco whispered, flinching as he hurried away leaving her to stare after him.

********** LTF **********

Confused, Narcissa had sought out her son's fiancé. She walked into the courtyard and watched for a moment as Harry and the young red headed Weasley boy sparred with swords under the watchful eye of Sirius's dark skinned friend – she believed his name was Kingsley.

Seeing her standing there, Harry signaled for Ron to stop and made his way to her. "Narcissa, is everything alright?"

"No, Harry." She shook her head lightly. "We had just finished surveying the castle's Yule décor and were talking of the future when…well, he ran off. I don't know what was wrong."

"Did he say anything before he left you?" Harry asked. He thought it was odd that Draco would act in such a way.

The queen sighed with a confused frown. "He asked me not to call him 'dragon'."

Harry's heart raced as he gasped. "I'll find him."

"Wait!" She called as he started to rush past her. "Why is he upset, Harry?"

Stopping on a sickle, Harry glanced back for a moment. "Riddle called him that. He must've forgotten to mention it but he doesn't like anyone to use that name for him. It's alright. I'll find him…he'll be fine." With that, he hurried into the castle calling for Dobby.

When the doors closed behind him, the elf appeared. "Master Draco is being very much upset!"

"I know, Dobby." Harry told the small creature. "Do you know where he is? The studio, perhaps?"

"No, Master Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby told him shaking his head and wringing his hands. "Master Draco is being in your rooms, sir!"

Harry didn't answer as he all but ran to Draco's side barely paying attention to all in his path, only acknowledging them with a small smile or a wave of his hand. When he entered the suite, he looked around. "Draco-Love?"

A movement on the couch attracted his attention. As he approached, he could see that his lover was sipping hot chocolate while snuggled into the caramel colored blanket that was kept there for just such a purpose.

"Draco…" Harry started softly. "Your mother told me you were upset."

"Did she tell you what happened?" The blond whispered not looking at his fiancé as he set his beverage on the low dark-wood table.

"She did." Carefully, Harry lifted the blanket and slipped in next to but slightly behind Draco. "I didn't realize she hadn't been told that particular detail but it's alright, I informed her of the situation."

"I didn't think to mention it. Most people call me 'Draco'." Draco continued softly blushing. "You sometimes use 'baby'…I kind of like that."

Harry grinned and nuzzled the blond's ear. "I like it too."

"Can…can we maybe…" The blush on Draco's cheeks deepened as his voice trailed off.

Playing on a hunch, Harry's grin turned mischievous as he used his tongue to draw Draco's earlobe into his mouth. Suckling lightly, he pressed against the blond's body finding pleasure in the soft whimper the act drew from his beloved. Draco couldn't help arching his neck as Harry kissed a zigzag line down to his collar. "You like that, Baby?"

His eyes closed, Draco moaned lightly and nodded. "So nice…"

Harry turned his lover to face him and snuggled close kissing Draco's cheeks, forehead and nose making him giggle before taking possession of the other boy's lips.

Draco's hands gripped Harry's shoulders before losing himself in the kiss and, just as things began to escalate, there was a knock at the door causing the boys to pull apart and quickly face the closed door.

Harry sighed. "It's probably your mum. We should calm down."

Clearing his throat, Draco took a sip of his hot chocolate and nodded. "I'm sure you're correct."

The knock sounded again.

Harry took a deep breath and stood. Walking to the door, he tried to picture something as anti-arousing as possible. The best he could come up with was Professor Dumbledore in a string bikini. Finally opening the door, the brunette found not only Narcissa, but Lucius and Severus as well.

Draco's parents went to his side as quickly as they could while Severus remained at the door with Harry. "Sirius needs to speak with you. It seems Hagrid has brought more than just the Yule log he was asked for."

Harry frowned looking up at the older man. "News?"

Severus nodded. "News from Remus Lupin."

"I see." Harry nodded and hurried to whisper his regrets to Draco that he couldn't sit with the Malfoys for the moment.

"If you don't mind, Harry, I'd like to be included in any plans to retake Hogwarts." The look Lucius gave him was a determined, no-nonsense expression.

A nod had the elder blond rising to his feet and kissing his loved ones lightly before joining Harry on his trek to the war room which was at the top of Draco's old tower. Severus stayed behind to speak with Draco and give any reassurance his godson may require.

The rooms beneath the tower were empty which was slightly surprising since they were fairly popular with the current residents but when, they arrived in the war room all was made clear. Pansy and Hermione were looking at the map while Blaise and Ron were speaking to Sirius and Hagrid.

"Siri." Harry said joining the group with Lucius right behind him. "What news?"

"Remus says there's dissension in the ranks of Voldemort's men." Sirius told his godson with a grin. "They've been getting lax in the watch schedules and some of them have been complaining to each other in the pub that he abuses them with violent and painful spells."

Harry grinned back. "That means we might be able to get one of them to talk to us or sabotage the defenses somehow."

"We might even be able to get the guy to sneak one of us into the castle." Sirius looked pleased.

"It can't be anyone he'll recognize." Lucius pointed out with a calculating nod. "Polyjuice is out as well since it would be difficult to keep our agent regularly resupplied."

"That's true." Sirius considered this.

"I hesitate to bring this option to your attention…" Lucius frowned. At the others' insistence, the king sighed. "There is the option to use the Imperious curse on someone we already know as one of his followers and have in custody. We could have him go in and sabotage the gates…like he did for Riddle in the first place…all those years ago."

Harry looked at his godfather. "Why shouldn't he mention it?"

Sirius sighed. "Because the Imperious curse is among what is known as the Unforgivable Curses, Harry…Didn't Dumbledore teach you that?"

"Well, yes but he also said that royalty was exempt from that law during wartime and could pardon someone who had cast one of the Unforgivables if they did it in service to their king and country." Harry pointed out placing a gentle hand on his godfather's arm. "Siri – this is war. It may be driven by a blood feud but it's not only that. His ultimate goal isn't just to have me dead or Draco's hand in marriage but control of both our magical realms."

Lucius seemed to be watching the two closely. "I understand your dilemma, Sirius…"

Harry eyed his godfather as the older man glared at Draco's father. "Do you?"

"I believe so…" Lucius nodded once. "You aren't royalty and so you cannot cast it without needing a pardon later…but you don't want Harry to do it either."

"Why don't you want me to do it, Siri?" Harry looked at each in turn until they were interrupted by his friends.

Hermione's voice shook as she looked at Harry's godfather. "Dark Arts spells harm the caster's soul, Harry."

Harry's green eyes flashed across the room at Sirius. "Why wasn't I taught this?"

"The effects of such spells are different for every caster, Harry." Hermione said softly standing just behind her friend. "Professor Dumbledore couldn't possibly warn you of all the effects."

"He could've at least told me that much." Harry huffed still glaring at his father-in-law and godfather.

Ron, Blaise and Pansy watched the standoff worriedly.

Lucius didn't take his eyes from Sirius' face as he spoke. "I believe I have a solution to this predicament."

Suspicious, Harry narrowed his gaze at the other man. "What might that be?"

Lucius took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Well, I haven't technically got the right to do this since the immediate danger is to Hogwarts and not my own crown but my son is soon to become Harry's consort which makes that kingdom his…"

"Wait." Sirius held up a hand. "Didn't you and James have to be officially allied in order to betroth the boys?"

A single nod from Lucius confirmed this. "Yes, there is a treaty in place…and because of that I can offer my support in the form of casting the Imperious curse on Pettigrew… after we interrogate him of course."

Harry blinked. Thoughts racing, Harry wanted to run out of the room screaming 'no' or at least shake his head. How – if there was a danger to his soul then surely Lucius' soul was in just as much danger – could he allow the father of his beloved to shoulder that burden? What he did was much different. "Let me think this over." He said softly. "There are other options and this really is too important to make a snap decision …especially when we don't know for sure we have a definite 'in'."

"Peter is a definite 'in' Harry." Sirius was insisting until Lucius held up a hand.

"Harry I think I know why you're hesitant." The blond man sighed.

Sirius huffed in annoyance. "You seem to know an awful lot, Luce."

"He is going to rule a country, Sirius. Sometimes he will have the luxury of time and other times, he won't." Draco's father smirked at his cousin-by-marriage. "This is one of the times that he does…but not long, Harry. I'll give you one day before we must begin to prepare both Pettigrew and myself. You may speak with Severus and Draco. I will be speaking to my wife."

Harry nodded and walked out of the room.

********** LTF **********

"I don't like this." Draco whispered to Harry. "Why would he offer this now? We just released him from that memory locking spell a few weeks ago and now suddenly he's ready to put stress on his soul by casting an Unforgivable? Does he care about me or my mother at all?"

"There are other options, Draco." Harry told him. "But they're not as certain of them as they are about using Pettigrew."

Severus sighed. "I'll speak to them and see what we can figure out. You said Lucius gave you a day to make the decision?"

Harry nodded. "I don't see why harming his soul is better than harming mine. If there's to be harm at all, it shouldn't be on innocent parties such as us."

"Lucius doesn't see himself as innocent, Harry. Even though we've ensured that he knows we don't blame him, he blames himself for all of this." Severus explained carefully.

"Then he's an idiot." Harry glared in the direction of his in-laws' rooms.

Draco bit his lip in an attempt to hide his amusement at Harry's behavior. A glance at his godfather's shocked expression rendered his efforts fruitless however as a snort broke free. Harry's eyebrows lifted in surprise as Draco brought his hand up to cover his mouth. "Harry, I'm sorry…it's just that you were so funny…and pouty…"

Severus wisely left Draco to deal with Harry's reaction to that. "I'll be back when I've spoken to them."

Harry ignored the older man's exit and continued to stare at his betrothed.

Becoming slightly uncomfortable with the intent focus of those green eyes, Draco cleared his throat and changed the subject. "My mum asked if I'd given any thought to our wedding…"

Harry felt his breath catch and reminded himself to breathe. "Did she?"

The blond's head bobbed in a nod.

"And have you?" Harry asked lightly forgetting about their previous talk to focus on a more pleasant subject.

Draco blushed. "Well of course I have but to be perfectly honest I've been thinking more about the wedding night."

Harry chuckled and pulled the blond into his lap from the chair he'd been sitting in. "I'm a little impatient for that as well, baby, but we do have to get through the next several months and the ceremony before it can happen."

"Actually, Harry, the crown is usually only granted to its blood heir after the heir is married." Draco informed him. "If we retake Hogwarts before marrying…well it may not see you as worthy."

Harry once again stared at his beloved. "Well then…I suppose we should marry soon."

"And after you take possession of Hogwarts, we'll hold the coronation and then we can…" The blond broke off with a deep blush.

"Try for an heir?" Harry whispered staring at his fiancé in fascination. "Do you really want children now? So early?"

"Our parents only waited a year or two…look at the things that happened to disrupt their dreams, Harry." Draco drew Harry's arms around himself. "I don't want it to happen to us. That's all."

"It won't, my love. We will maintain constant vigilance and nothing like this will happen again." Harry cuddled close to his lover and sighed. "So what thoughts did you have of the wedding?"

Draco smiled and brought pictures of a platinum wedding band to mind before starting to describe it to his fiancé.

"No gems or jewels? Not etchings or engraving?" Harry was shocked.

"I didn't say that at all." Draco grinned. He loved to surprise his prince. "Here, I've drawn it – Let me summon my pad from the bedroom." He took out his wand and soon a sketch pad floated into the room. The blond caught it and flipped to the page he was talking about.

Harry took it from him almost reverently. His fingers traced the engraved vine of ivy as it swirled around the ring. Every other leaf held a diamond. He couldn't wait to see it on Draco's left hand and told his lover so. "It's gorgeous."

"Have you thought about your ring?" Draco asked taking back his pad.

"I feel horrible to admit it but…not as much as you have." Harry looked at the pad in Draco's hand. "I have thought about the robes we'll be wearing…and how I want a cape like yours to go with them."

"The robes?" A smile teased Draco's lips as he thought of seeing Harry wear a flowing red cape. "I've only thought of them a little. What would you have us wear?"

Harry grinned as they talked about their wedding and he stopped worrying for a moment about souls and curses and kingdoms.

********** LTF **********

Severus brought the news that Lucius was in perfect understanding of what he offered and, being that he had cast similar spells in the past, he was confident the damage to his soul would be minimal. Harry sat in on the interrogation of Pettigrew but didn't opt to participate. The answers they got to the questions that were asked were petty and unsatisfying.

Pettigrew had become friends with Riddle when he was away for vacation with his family one summer during his youth. He'd kept in touch with Riddle all the while keeping his friendship going with James. Lily had been nice to him and he liked that. He wanted Lily for his own and Riddle had sworn Pettigrew could keep her under a love potion once the realms were his.

It was enough to make Harry sick so, when he'd heard enough, he sought Draco's company. Finding the blond in his art studio with his mother, Harry smiled and tried to sneak up on his beloved only for Draco to speak without turning.

"Have you come to steal me away, my prince?" The blond joked with a smirk as he continued to sketch.

Harry sighed knowing his game was up. "Just for a little while…I was hoping you'd show me the portrait room. It's almost Yule and I wanted to meet my parents."

"Lucius and I visited the room soon after you woke me." Narcissa confided smiling softly. "Lily and James were very kind. They said – as you did – that it wasn't our fault that events unfolded as they did. It doesn't change that we regret the choices we made but I do feel more at peace with it."

"Have you let Severus take Siri in yet?" Harry asked, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer to that because an affirmative response would make him question why his godfather hadn't told him.

"I thought you and I should go in first, Harry." Draco finally turned to face him. "I just know if they had any disappointment in Sirius, it would be dispelled as soon as they met you since he obviously did a good job of keeping you safe and happy."

Nodding silently, Harry opened his arms for the blond to step close.

"Come on, I'll take you now." Draco glanced at his mother who had fallen silent as she looked at his sketch. "Do you like it, Mum?"

"Like it?" She stared at her face on the page. "It's so lifelike…It should be framed!"

Draco blushed and bit his lip. "There are several I'd like to frame and hang in the halls."

"When you and Harry are finished in the gallery, come find me and we can choose which ones will be framed." She grinned at her son and waved them off.

Draco took Harry's hand and led his green-eyed boy out of the studio and down the staircase. Harry could barely keep up as Draco led him through the hallways to a tapestry. The blond smirked and lifted the edge of the tapestry to show Harry a hidden door. He let the tapestry fall and pointed out several details on it. "This shows my father's family tree."

Harry grinned. "I'll have to look this over one day."

Draco nodded, knowing that his lover was impatient to see the contents of the room beyond. He lifted the tapestry again and pressed his finger to the molding of the doorframe. A crackle of magic reached out to surround the young blond's hand and then quickly dissipated as the door swung open.

The young royals could hear a low murmur as they entered. Harry stood in the spot Draco pointed and watched as the blond spoke out loud. "Malfoy ancestors! I know you haven't seen me for many years so I will introduce myself. I am Draconis Hyperion Malfoy and this is my betrothed, Harrington James Potter. We have come to speak with James and Lily Potter but we promise to visit with the rest of you over the next few weeks." Draco smiled softly as he saw his ancestors retreat into their frames until only one couple remained up close. Seeing that Harry was just standing there, Draco got behind him and pushed lightly until the brunette put one foot in front of the other enough times to bring them face to face.

Neither boy said a word as they watched Lily look out of the frame at her son. With one hand in James' and a tear running down her cheek, she reached a hand out toward Harry. "Oh…my baby!" She sniffed and brought a handkerchief to her eyes from out of nowhere.

"Hello, my son." James said with a cautious frown on his face. "I've been wondering if you would visit us."

Harry shook his head which seemed to silence them. "I have one picture of you. Uncle Sirius gave it to me when I got old enough to take care of my own things. You look just the same…"

"We took that picture just a month or two before our deaths, Harry…at the same time as sitting for this portrait." Lily whispered, somewhat more composed than she had been.

"I can't tell you how amazing it is that someone had the foresight to give the Malfoys a portrait of you." Harry touched the edge of the frame lightly. "I never thought I'd meet you. I thought I was a child of ordinary magical citizens of my country that got caught up in a war…"

"Narcissa gave us a portrait of herself and Lucius first. She didn't want Draco to be lonely if you and he married and moved into Hogwarts and we knew eventually we would all be gone and he might want to see or speak to them again at some point…" Lily smiled through her sadness. "I decided she had a point and arranged for this one."

James hadn't said much which seemed to worry Harry but when the young prince looked toward his father, he saw wonder in those brown eyes.

"What?" Harry asked the man in the frame.

"Lily, I - …Look at him. I got my greatest wish, Lils." James took a deep breath and told the boys the story of the day Harry was born, how he wished for his son to look just like him with just one physical aspect of his lovely wife visible – her eyes. "They're green, Lils…your eyes in our beautiful son!"

Harry blushed at the compliment and pulled Draco in front of him. "You know Draco, I take it?"

Lily looked at the young blond. "Oh, you're so like your parents! I knew you would be of course, but to see you as you were last time and then now – well you look like a gorgeous mixture of your parents! You have your father's eyes and that shade of hair is his too but your cheekbones are more defined – that's your mother's influence. Oh, you are lovely! James, our grandchildren are going to be so beautiful!"

It was Draco's turn to blush under such scrutiny. "We haven't quite gotten to that yet, Your Majesty."

"Uh, uh, uh…" James started to grin at the pair but it soon became a smirk. "We'll be having none of that title nonsense with us, young man. You'll use our names and Harry can call us whatever he'd like."

"I think I'll stick with 'Mum and Dad'." Harry smiled up at them.

Just then, the door opened. "Yes, I thought we'd find you here." Lucius pulled Narcissa inside with him and impatiently waved for someone to follow them. "Will you stop this foolishness, Sirius?"

Harry looked up at his parents. "You're not angry with him, are you?"

James shook his head and glanced in the direction of the door speaking loudly enough for all of their guests to hear. "Sirius, please come in."

Harry went to the door and looked up at his godfather. "He wants to see you, Siri. He's not angry…not even a little bit."

Head bowed, Sirius walked into the room as if he was headed to a hangman's noose. He went over to where Draco stood and looked up only when James asked him to.

"Sirius, please look at me, my friend." James said in his 'royal' voice. "We hold nothing against you. You did as I commanded, Siri. What happened was not your fault and there wasn't anything that could be done to save us without sacrificing yourself and probably Harry." The vague nods he got from his old friend didn't satisfy James in the slightest. "Sirius, look at him. He's strong and brave…"

"Chivalrous…" Draco ducked his head suddenly shy that he'd interrupted.

"See that?" Smirking, James glanced over to wink at his future son-in-law. "He's amazing, Siri."

Lily took over where he left off. "Sirius, if you hadn't brought Harry to Petunia, you and he would be dead…so much would be different."

"If Harry hadn't survived…" This at least got Sirius to look at his godson and then glanced at Lucius. Draco would've been doomed to his fate as Riddle's subjugated spouse while Lucius and Narcissa remained servants without memories. That was to say nothing of the fate Severus would've suffered. He let those thoughts simmer as he looked back up at his friend, brother and king. "Many people have tried to tell me the same thing. I know the reality of it all but to see you in person this way and hear it from you…in your voices…Maybe I can finally put my guilt to rest."

James gave Harry a look and was gratified to see his son take the hint. Harry hurried forward and hugged Sirius tightly. Draco glanced over at his own godfather and wondered if a scene similar to this happened soon after his father got his memories back. The tears in Severus' eyes told him the answer was likely 'yes'.

Later that night, Draco lay in bed with Harry's arms around him. Harry had spent the rest of the day with Sirius after meeting his parents and Draco's mind had raced while he and his mother had sat and talked about his sketches. He looked up at Harry and whispered that he'd missed him.

Hearing the soft whisper, Harry pressed his cheek against the top of Draco's head. "I missed you too, baby."

"Talk to me, Harry?" Draco asked still being fairly quiet.

"About what, love?" Harry seemed surprised by the request.

"What happened today…what you're thinking…" Draco suggested lightly.

After a moment of silence Harry gave a shrug. "I'm happy that my parents don't hold Siri responsible for their deaths. So happy. If his fears of their condemning him had been confirmed I think he would've descended into a deep depression he may not have come back from."

Draco nodded. "And not only would that have hurt him and you but our chances to take back the Scottish Magical throne and realm."

"Yes." Harry sighed. "Is it wrong that I was thinking that way when my parents' wishes might've been different?"

"No, Harry!" Draco scooted up to look into Harry's eyes. "You have the right to your own opinions and judgments. You're here, they're not. It's all up to you now…and I'll be there to help you. I promise."

Harry was visibly moved by his beloved's words. He could only mouth his thanks as Draco snuggled in closer and began to drift off to sleep.

********** LTF **********

Thanks for sticking with me and please do let me know what you think!

Lori